Antonov AN-2

[LewisM]

Went through GIGBYTES of photos from various trips to Russia recently, and this one caught my eye (taken on an old first gen Canon digital pocket camera!).

Fiddled with some low-key HDR a little.

Antonov AN-2, middle of Siberia, late summer (went inside also and took many pictures)

[Regulus]

That's a novelty because it's not the usual Antonov we see. Usually the huge cargo types are featured, so this is very cool.

Cheers - Trev

[leon]

You said Antonov, :eyepop:and i thought bugger you you must have got a good shot of one of those big buggers, but alas it was just a baby.

Man i just wish i was in a place to photograph one of them, :) a few weeks ago it was in Rockhampton, we went to the air strip only to find it had taken off the night before. :sadeyes:

Never mind one day :thumbsup:

Leon :thumbsup:

[LewisM]

The AN-2 has the 2nd longest production life in history - 1947 to 2001. 18,000 airframes built, many thousand still in service.

The longest production run in history goes to the C-130 Hercules, from 1954 to present, but with FAR fewer airframes at only 2500.

[FlashDrive]

Nice Pic...

[LewisM]

Actually, found out today that the An-2 has resumed production - either as the original version on special order, or as a new version with turboprop engine and end strut with no rigging.

[ChrisV]

Where do you go in Russia Lewis?
Don't you love the airports there - discarded and scavenged planes & jet engines lying around everywhere

[LewisM]

Mainly Siberia, but Moscow, St. Petersburg, Izhevsk and others.

Next planned trip will be Krasnoyarsk (and region), Moscow and St Pete - looking like January at this stage. Need the kids to know what cold REALLY is :P

[ChrisV]

That will definitely keep them honest. Our family did Moscow, Kazan, Samara (so near Izhevsk), Sochi and St P. That was summer and hot in most places. But even then St P was cold. It really is the most amazing place.

I went through Siberia in the early 80s (that makes me feel old) on the Trans Siberian - part of an extended train trip from London to Hong Kong. December, late at night - walking down to passport control at Mongolia. That was painfully cold. I imagine January will be even colder.

Krasnoyarsk looks interesting. I'll have to learn more Russian before going back there - at least it amuses the locals

[gary]

Thanks for the photo and background history.

Then there's the venerable Cessna 172. :)

In production for 61 years, only three short of the C-130, still in production
today and over 40,000 airframes built, more than any other aircraft in history.

The Cessna 172 still also holds the world record for flight endurance
set in 1958, when it flew non-stop for 64 days, 19 hours without landing.

[LewisM]

Found more while trying to find some photos for this month's photo contest.

Wifey picture in the cockpit too just for the hell of it :lol:

Incidentally, this aircraft is used as a meatbomber (aka parachutist dropping aircraft)

[RB]

Cool photos Lewis.
More please.

:thumbsup:

[multiweb]

Here you go.

[RB]

Hey Lewis.

I think you've met your Waterloo.

:rofl:

[LewisM]

Ah, but remember, at Waterloo, Napoleon did surrender...

(or so ABBA told me)

Besides, I can hear the 1812 Overture...

[multiweb]

It's Siberia thawing... bloody frogs everywhere.

[LewisM]

HE HE HE. Cuisse de grenouille... nam nam...